Protective Immunity against Gamma and Zeta Variants after Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Virus Immunization

Author(s):Show less -

Fumagalli, Marcilio Jorge ^{[1, 2]} ; Castro-Jorge, Luiza Antunes ^[1] ; Fraga-Silva, Thais Fernanda de Campos ^[3] ; de Azevedo, Patrick Orestes ^[4] ; Capato, Carlos Fabiano ^[1] ; Rattis, Bruna Amanda Cruz ^[5] ; Hojo-Souza, Natalia Satchiko ^[4] ; Floriano, Vitor Goncalves ^[1] ; de Castro, Julia Teixeira ^[4] ; Ramos, Simone Gusmao ^[5] ; da Fonseca, Benedito Antonio Lopes ^[1] ; Bonato, Vania Luiza Deperon ^{[3, 2]} ; Gazzinelli, Ricardo Tostes ^{[2, 4, 6]} ; Figueiredo, Luiz Tadeu Moraes ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Virol Res Ctr, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Basic & Appl Immunol Program, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Biochem & Immunol, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rene Rachou Inst, Immunopathol Lab, BR-30190002 Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Pathol, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Platform Translat Med, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Viruses-Basel; v. 13, n. 12 DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The persistent circulation of SARS-CoV-2 represents an ongoing global threat due to the emergence of new viral variants that can sometimes evade the immune system of previously exposed or vaccinated individuals. We conducted a follow-up study of adult individuals that had received an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, evaluating antibody production and neutralizing activity over a period of 6 months. In addition, we performed mice immunization with inactivated SARS-CoV-2, and evaluated the immune response and pathological outcomes against Gamma and Zeta variant infection. Vaccinated individuals produced high levels of antibodies with robust neutralizing activity, which was significantly reduced against Gamma and Zeta variants. Production of IgG anti-S antibodies and neutralizing activity robustly reduced after 6 months of vaccination. Immunized mice demonstrated cellular response against Gamma and Zeta variants, and after viral infection, reduced viral loads, IL-6 expression, and histopathological outcome in the lungs. TNF levels were unchanged in immunized or not immunized mice after infection with the Gamma variant. Furthermore, serum neutralization activity rapidly increases after infection with the Gamma and Zeta variants. Our data suggest that immunization with inactivated WT SARS-CoV-2 induces a promptly responsive cross-reactive immunity response against the Gamma and Zeta variants, reducing COVID-19 pathological outcomes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/26119-0 - Emerging and re-emerging viruses: biology, pathogenesis and prospection
• Grantee: Eurico de Arruda Neto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/05527-0 - Bivalent intranasal vaccine using influenza virus expressing SARS-CoV-2 protein S (spike): protection mechanisms and lung injury
• Grantee: Ricardo Tostes Gazzinelli
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/09383-3 - Study about Flavivirus epitopes with medical importance in Brazil and its antibodies
• Grantee: Marcilio Jorge Fumagalli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/09881-6 - Role of TLR2 and TLR9-dependent signalling in epithelial or dendritic cells in lung inflammation during allergen reexposure and pneumococcal infection
• Grantee: Thais Fernanda de Campos Fraga da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/11213-1 - Multiusuary equipament in the grant 2017/21629-5, flow cytometry FACS melody 2-lasers, 6-colors (4-2) blue violet
• Grantee: Vânia Luiza Deperon Bonato
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program